Full Circle

When I was little, my older sister would go on mission trips during the summer with our church’s youth choir. I watched her leave and waited impatiently for her to return and tell me about all of the things they did the week she was gone. Finally, after she graduated, it was my turn to go.

I remember going to Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, and a few other states, with my last trip to Schenectady, NY, during my senior year in college. While on these trips we would hold backyard Bible schools in parks and campgrounds, or at local churches. The choir would also sing at nursing homes and town parks. These are some of my most memorable experiences. Witnessing to the children and their parents was an experience that helped mold me into the Christian I am today.

Fast forward to years later when--as a parent of two teenage daughters and a children’s and youth leader at my local church--I had the opportunity to take my girls and their youth group on mission trips. The first was a trip to Chattanooga, TN. We helped to refurbish an old public school into a Christian school. The last was a trip to Florida to help a children’s home remodel and fix up their yard. The students got to minister to the local workers, children, and learn what it meant to be the hands and feet of Christ.

This week, many years later, the tables have again turned, and I was able to play another role in missions. A group from World Changers, who came from Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, and included some local youth from Holly Pond, were working on painting, building decks and porches, and helping with yard work for some widows and veterans in a local Cullman City neighborhood. My new role was to help support the workers by providing lunch for them each day. I have been truly blessed by this group of youth and adults, who have come to help shine the light of Christ into the lives of those in need. Someone made the comment to me this week that my life had now come “full circle”.  

Matthew 25:34-40:  34. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38. When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39. When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40.  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

So, go and be the hands and feet. Feed the hungry and thirsty, invite the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison. We have all been called to serve. Some have been called to go. Others have been called to send cards and pray. We can all serve in our own way.